DOESN’T five years fly by? It’s not as if Manchester had been stranger to great plates of steak over the years but the arrival of Hawksmoor in 2015 did raise the carnivore bar rather high. Alongside its acclaimed food it has also set high standard of service and has yet gan been named in the Sunday Times’ 50 Best companies to work for’.
Every excuse then to join them in their weeklong birthday celebrations, which kick off on Monday, March 2, with one of Hawksmoor Manchester’s most popular dishes, Chicken Poutine Barm will make a return to the menu for a month. It was originally a Manc launch special but proved popular too in their original string of London restaurants
The Montreal-Meets-Manchester sandwich features triple cooked chips, chicken gravy and cheddar cheese curds stuffed in a traditional barm with extra gravy for dipping and, £1 from every sandwich sold will be donated to the Wood Street Mission.
On Wednesday, March 4, one-off specials from two of Hawksmoor’s favourite suppliers, The Rare Breed Meat Co. and Brixham Seafish will be available for one day only, written on the blackboards.
Launching that day but destined to be on the drinks list throughout March, two limited edition beers to toast the birthday – a Viennese Waltz (amber lager) and a Rhubarb Spritz, both brewed by our own Runaway. (Owner Mark Welsby, above, doesn’t spare the rhubarb).
Not to be outdone, Manchester Gin has created a special batch of gin using five botanicals commonly found in Hawksmoor dishes: coriander, juniper, tarragon, kaffir lime leaf, and fennel.
The actual birthday, Thursday, March 5, will see internationally renowned bartenders Joe and Daniel Schofield take over the bar for the night. Set to open their own eponymous bar in their hometown of Manchester, they will be showcasing Schofield’s Dry Vermouth, which they created hand in hand with Asterley Bros. a British vermouth, fernet and amaro brand. Supported by Hawksmoor bar team, they will be making five bespoke cocktails, available from 6pm to 9pm, priced at £5 each.
To round off the birthday week, on Friday, March 6, dishes from the original a la carte menu will make a come-back for one night only. These will include: Panzano steak tartare, Salcombe crab salad, Deep fried oysters, Hake with romesco and the Jansson’s Temptation. The latter, Swedish potato and anchovy casserole, is a particular ToM favourite.
Additionally, Hawksmoor Classics menu, showcasing dishes, drinks and people central to Hawksmoor over the past decade and a bit, will be available for the whole of March, priced at £70 per person or £95 per person including wine pairings.
Hawksmoor Manchester, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB